Gran Vía

Gran Vía is Madrid's most famous boulevard, cut through the city in the early 1900s to link Calle de Alcalá with Plaza de España. Lined with grand early-20th-century buildings, it became the city's entertainment hub, home to hotels, theaters, and shops.

Notice the elegant facades and theater marquees—many former movie palaces now house shopping centers. For the classic photo, stand at the junction with Calle de Alcalá and look west, capturing the boulevard receding into the distance. Best visited in the evening when the buildings light up.